Series at Cedarcroft Bible Chapel

October 1, 8, 15, 1989

Dr. Robert C. Newman

 

CHRISTIANS& THE STATE

 

Introduction

 

            Time of increasingtensions between evan Xns and government, whether federal, state or local govt.

            Variousareas of tension:

                        publicschool vs Xn school for declining no. of students        

                        stateoversight of Xn schools

                        taxexemption for Xn organizations

                        prayer& Bible reading in public schools

                        religiousinterest groups using public school property

                        growingpluralism in US, w/ pressure for women's rights, gay rights, etc.

            Twomajor areas of concern for Xns:

                        (1)What is right thing to do in each case?

                        (2)Who has authority and how much?

            Wantto concentrate on 2nd area:

                        Whatdoes Bible say about relationship of believers – individually andcollectively – to the state?

 

TheOld Testament Background

 

Creation (Gen 1 & 2)

   

            Godhas created both earth & mankind, so He owns them to use as He sees fit (cpRom 9:16‑24, esp 20‑21).

            Man does not absolutelyown himself or anything else, but holds self and property as a trust from God.

            Biblicalview contrasts sharply with

                        (1)Statism ‑ state has absolute authority

                        (2)Individualism ‑ individual has abs authority

 

GodŐs Worldwide Covenants

 

            AdamicCovenant (Gen 1:28; 2:15‑25)

                        Mankindis given authority over earth, its plants & animals.

                        Familyauthority also established.

                        TheFall apparently did not nullify this disposition, though it is made moredifficult by curses:

                                    Onchildbirth, family, agriculture (3:16‑19)

                                    Onrelations with animals (9:2)

 


                        Herewe have origin of human authority, property and (with fall) of crime; nothingexplicit on govt. beyond family.

 

            NoachianCovenant (Gen 9:1‑17)

                        Apparentlyextends man's authority over man (vv 5‑6) when cp with cases of Cain,Lamech earlier.

                        Lookslike some sort of govt with power of life & death is instituted to punishsin.

 

            God'sLimitations on Man via These Worldwide Arrangements

 

                        Seenin God's Judgments:

                                    Flood(Gen 6‑8) ‑ for general wickedness

                                    Babel(Gen 11) ‑ for disobedience, pride

                                    Sodom& Gomorrah (Gen 18‑19) ‑ for great wickedness, sodomy; misuseof wealth (Ezk 16:49‑50); note evid of protective function of righteous.

 

                        Denouncedby God's Prophets:

                                    Amosagainst various nations:

                                                Damascus(1:3) ‑ threshing Gilead

                                                Philistia,Tyre (1:6,9) ‑ deportation

                                                Edom(1:11) ‑ warfare, cruelty, vengeance

                                                Ammon(1;13) ‑ aggression, atrocities

                                                Moab(2:1) ‑ murder, desecration of corpse?

                                    Jonah& Nahum against Nineveh:

                                                Jonah(1:2) ‑ wickedness

                                                Nahum(1:2) ‑ enmity toward God

                                                            (1:15)‑ afflicting Judah

                                                            (3:19)‑ afflicting others

                                    Danielagainst Babylonian kings:

                                                Nebuchadnezzar(ch 4) ‑ pride

                                                Belshazzar(ch 5) ‑ pride, mocking God

 

GodŐs Covenants with Israel

 

            Above covenants made withall people, may still be in force even where Gospel has not penetrated.

            Covenants below (incl NT)apply to restricted groups at enactment (Israel, church), but prob to bebroadened in Millennium.

 

            AbrahamicCovenant (Gen 12,13,15,17,22)

                        Noexplicit form of govt established.

                        Promisesof blessing developed.

 

            MosaicCovenant (Exodus ‑ Deuteronomy)

 

                        Officesof prophet, priest & king established, with latter two (at least) keptseparate.

                                    (1)Prophet (Deut 18:15‑22) ‑ chosen by God individually; put to deathif false (presumably by govt); act as "advisors" for govt.

                                    (2)Priest (Ex 28‑29) ‑ chosen by God as dynasty, clearly specified bylaw (enforced by whom?); no govt functions.

                                    (3)King (Deut 17:14‑20) ‑ chosen by God, to be set up by people later(becomes dynasty under Davidic covenant); restrictions: Israelite, few horses(military), wives (alliances, idolatry, promiscuity), moderate wealth; periodof judges suggest some ambivalence re/ form of govt?

 

                        Interactionof Individual & Offices

                                    (1)Indiv. & King:

                                                Ehud& Eglon (Judg 3:12‑30, esp 21)

                                                David& Saul (1 Sam 18 ‑ 2 Sam 2, esp 24:10‑14

                                                            contrastHazael (2 Kings 8:8‑15)

                                    (2)King & Prophet:

                                                obeying:Rehoboam & Shemaiah (1 Kings 12:21‑24)

                                                resisting:Jeroboam (13:1‑10, esp 4,6)

                                                testing:Ahab & Michaiah (22:26‑28)

                                                killing:Joash & Zechariah (2 Chr 24:21‑22)

                                    (3)King & Priest:

                                                Uzziah& Azariah (2 Chr 26:16‑24)

                                                Athaliah& Jehoiada (2 Kings 11:1‑16)

 

                        Proverbson Duties of King & Citizen

                                    (1)King

                                                16:10‑15‑ divine commission, concern w/ truth, punishment

                                                25:2‑ investigation

                                                29:4,12,14‑ dangers of bribery, falsehood

                                                31:2‑9‑ dangers of women & wine; defend defenseless

                                    (2)Citizen

                                                16:13‑14;20:2; 25:15 ‑ be righteous, don't make trouble; persuade

                                                24:21‑22‑ fear God & the king

                                                25:6‑7‑ be humble

 


TheNew Testament Teaching

 

Basic Passages

 

            Matthew22:15‑22:  Pay Taxes toCaesar

                        BackgroundHistory: Palestine conquered by Romans 63 BC; rule thru Herod the Great 37‑4BC, then a series of Rom governors after Archelaus deposed AD 6; at this time(JesusŐ ministry) governor was Pilate (incidents of Rom stds.; taking templemoney to build aqueduct; killing Galileans while        sacrificing)

                        Jewishviews covered a wide spectrum:

                                    Sadducees,Herodians ‑ cooperation

                                    Pharisees‑ grudging obedience

                                    Zealots‑ revolt

                        Taxation:high, imposed, corruption

                        Coinage:images, inscriptions

                        Dilemmaposed by Jesus' opponents to put him on spot:

                                    (1)Allow payment: collaboration w/ enemy, condoning emperor's claims; discreditedw/ crowd

                                    (2)Forbid payment: treason; discredited w/ govt

                        Jesus'answer:

                                    getscoin from opponents, who (having one) have left selves open (and demonstratedhypocrisy)

                                    Jesus'tells them to give it back to owner

                        Teachingon govt:

                                    twospheres clearly indicated, but relationship not; separate?  God's sphere includes govt's?

                                    noteterminology: not "temple & Caesar", but "God andCaesar"

                                    clearlyJesus teaches responsibility to both, but not an equality of authority; Jesushardly pictures God as being excluded from Caesar's sphere.

 

            Romans13:1‑7:  Obey Your Rulers

                        (1)God is source not only of authority in general, but of every particularauthority as well.

                        (2)Therefore we disobey God in resisting authorities.

                        (3‑4)Govt authority is intended to limit evil (and succeeds); it serves God byrewarding righteous & punishing wicked.

                        (5)therefore we submit both to obey God & avoid govt punishment.

                        (6‑7)we must pay taxes, even tribute money to govt, respect its officers, submit tothem.

 

            1Peter 2:11‑17:  Live asServants of God

                        (11‑12)context: we are "strangers" here on earth, so we must resist livinglike "natives"; we are to have a "beautiful lifestyle."

                        (13‑14)this lifestyle involves submission to govt authorities for God's sake as theyare intended to reward righteous & punish wicked.

                        (15)God's purpose in this for us as "strangers": "put to silenceignorance of foolish men."

                        (16‑17)summary: don't use Christian freedom as pretext for wickedness; honor all, loveXns, fear God, honor king.

 

Some Specific Examples

 

            Johnthe Baptist & Herod Antipas (Mk 6:16‑29, esp 17‑18)

                        ApparentlyJB publicly rebukes political leader; no attempt to organize revolt.

            Peter & John vs TempleAuthorities (Acts 4:1‑31, esp 18‑20; 5:17‑42, esp 28‑29,38‑42) Refuse to obey authorities when they forbid what God demands; buttake consequences rather than organizing revolt; non‑violent resistance.

            Paulw/ Sanhedrin (Acts 23:1‑10, esp 3‑5, 6; cp 24:21)

                        Paulseems to be uneasy about his remarks to High Priest and his trick in splittingSanhdedrin; suggests responsibility to show respect even when not"deserved."

            Paulw/ Felix (Acts 24:10‑27, esp 11‑12, 19‑20, 24‑25, 26)

                        Appealsto evidence, witnesses; uses opportunities to present Gospel; apparentlyrefuses to pay a bribe.

            Paulw/ Festus (Acts 25:6‑12, esp 7‑8, 9‑11)

                        Appealsto evidence; admits right of tribunal to put him to death; uses available legalremedies.

            Paulw/ Festus, Agrippa (Acts 26:1‑32, esp 22‑29)

                        Againuses opportunity to present Gospel.

 

Conclusions

 

            Limitsto State (& Religious) Authority

                        Nomen given "blank check" from God;

                                    Prophetsare closest, but they are closely tested and have no political power;

                                    Theauthority of religious leaders over political is persuasive & moral only.

            Obedienceto God Takes Precedence

                        Individualor group must obey its conscience, though this does not exempt them frompolitical penalties.

                        Leadershave greater responsibility as they may punish.

            NoAutomatic Right to Rebel

                        Disobedienceof leaders does not cancel their authority over subordinates, thoughsubordinates may have to disobey in particular points.

                        Caseof Ehud suggests that rebellion may need explicit revelation; no evid for      different NTethic here.